Ft. Myers, Fla. (February 24, 2008) – The Saint Leo University baseball team (10-5) suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Wheeling Jesuit University (1-0) on Sunday at the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Saint Leo CF Kyle Hobbs (Jr., Dade City, Fla.) went 3-for-4 on the day, while junior LF T.J. Alonzo (Jr., Tampa, Fla.) gave the Lions their only run of the afternoon with his team-leading ninth home run of the season. Braulio Pardo (Jr., Land O’Lakes, Fla.), Bobby Munoz (Jr., Tampa, Fla.) and Jonathan Duncan (Jr., Starke, Fla.) all registered one hit in the contest to stretch their hitting streaks to nine games overall.

Overall, the Lions were shut down by WJU starter Cody Stickdorn who threw a complete game, scattering eight hits and allowing just the one run. Stickdorn struck out eight en route to the win, out-dueling Saint Leo starter Carter Clements (Sr., Eustis, Fla.) who allowed two runs (one earned) in 7.0 innings of work while striking out seven. The loss was Clements’ first of the season (2-1).

The Cardinal jumped to a lead in the fifth inning after a scoreless start to the game. A two-run single by 2B Ricky Szeligo gave Wheeling Jesuit a 2-0 lead, which was all the cushion Stickdorn would need.

The Lions cut the lead in half with Alonzo’s fourth homer in three games, as he led off the sixth with a solo shot. However, that was all the Saint Leo offense could muster, as WJU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and Stickdorn concluded his complete-game effort by striking out the side in the bottom of the inning.

Saint Leo will head to Valdosta, Ga. on Tuesday for a non-conference meeting with Valdosta State University. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m.